Total Pell Grant Expenditures and Number of Recipients over Time

Total Pell Grant expenditures increased from $6.1 billion (in 2017 dollars) in 1977-78 to $9.7 billion in 1997-98 and to $28.2 billion in 2017-18. Over the decade from 2007-08 to 2017-18, expenditures spiked from $17.2 billion in 2007-08 to $40.1 billion in 2010-11, before falling back to $28.2 billion in 2017-18.

Figure 20B: Total Pell Grant Expenditures and Number of Recipients, 1977-78 to 2017-18

The percentage of Pell Grant recipients who are independent students, with eligibility determined by their own financial circumstances rather than those of their parents, increased from 39% in 1977-78 to 57% in 1997-98. This percentage declined from 58% in 2007-08 and 2012-13 to 51% in 2016-17.

Changes in Pell Grant expenditures result from changes in the legislated maximum grant, the formula for determining expected family contributions, the number of enrolled students, the share of students enrolling full time, and the financial circumstances of students and families.